Overview & Reviews

Lexus has earned a well-deserved reputation for turning out utterly refined luxury vehicles. The hallmarks of this brand are a quiet, well-crafted cabin, a plush ride and commendable performance from powerful, nearly silent engines.

Lexus began out of a desire by parent company Toyota to create a world-class luxury car brand. Groundwork for Lexus was laid in the mid-1980s, when the company began tapping U.S. focus groups in an attempt to define design concepts best suited for American consumers. Hundreds of prototypes were built and tested on Germany's autobahn and on U.S. roads.

In early 1989, the company unveiled its first two models (which would debut for the 1990 model year) -- the entry-level ES 250 sedan and the flagship LS 400 sedan. The LS 400 was lauded by both journalists and consumers alike for offering a stellar luxury-car experience, with a remarkably silent cabin, superb build quality and a refined V8 engine. At the same time, the LS was priced considerably lower than smaller, lesser-equipped, six-cylinder European rival luxury sedans.

By the early 1990s, the Lexus brand was expanded to other markets, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. More models were added to the lineup, including the SC 300 and SC 400 coupes and the brand's first luxury performance sedan, the GS 300. By decade's end, the company had added SUVs (in the form of the LX 450/LX 470 and RX 300) and had sold more than a million vehicles in the U.S.

The first decade of the 2000s saw Lexus proving itself a trend setter with the launch of many hybrid-powered versions of its vehicles such as the RX 400h and the GS 450h. And by 2011, Lexus even introduced a world-class supercar, the LFA.

In the years since its inception, the Lexus brand has distinguished itself time and again in quality and reliability surveys. The brand's vehicles may not offer as much passion as some Teutonic rivals, but for drivers interested in vehicles that emphasize quality, dependability and comfort, the Lexus marque is hard to beat.

User Reviews:

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  All I expected but . . . - 2013 Lexus ES 300h
  By selkirk2 - December 5 - 11:24 am

  Owned my ES300h for six months and have enjoyed almost everything about the car. It is perfect, for me, except that the fuel consumption (mainly in town), is poor averaging between 7.2 and 7.9 litres per 100 kms - Lexus tell me it will improve but so far no joy. Probably biggest irritation is the GPS - only one voice available and that not to my liking; no Spanish or French option; and it seldom understands my (english) accent! Oh, and the trunk is small. Otherwise, beautiful car. Happy camper I am.

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  Nice Car, but could be better - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By H Baker - December 4 - 2:43 pm

  Over all the RX 300 is a very good car! It is easy to drive as the steering feels effortless. The design is good but needs some refinements such as more room. The ride is stiffer than the MDX. Fuel economy is fair at best.

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  POOR fuel economy! - 2013 Lexus RX 450h
  By yodaskywalker - December 2 - 5:57 am

  Very disappointed! Fuel economy well below the EPA estimates. Had I known I would only get 22-23mpg I wouldnt have wasted my money on the hybrid version. Definitely feel cheated. Poor design of back seats. There is a large gap between the back seats that is both a safety hazzard and is unsightly. Poor design of navigation/computer as unable to perform many functions when the vehicle is in motion. Windshield wipers/washer has poor coverage of the front windshield. Unable to close off outside air when the defroster is engaged.

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  JUST OKAY - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By CT - December 2 - 3:50 am

  This car is ----JUST OKAY---- This is my first Lexus and probably my last. Lexus simply cannot be compared to BMW, Mercedes, or Infiniti. Lexus simply lacks the technology, built quality, and reliability of the other companies. Oil changes are expensive ($100+) and not to mention the 15000 mile tune up will cost owners ($300+) then again at 30000. Problems: 3 out of the 4 Windows have gone off track, driver door will not auto lock or open (key sensor is broken). And steering wheel leather if falling apart. Transmission is terrible, tooooo much lag when you push the accelerator. If you are looking for a family car for long trips, this is the car for you. MAKE SURE YOU TEST DRIVE FIRST!!

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  Love this car - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By cwdavis - December 2 - 2:00 am

  Have 6,000 miles on it and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I enjoy the Adaptive Variable Suspension which transforms car from one of comfort to very sporty handling. I find the interior beautifully crafted and I like the front styling. It is extremely quiet and smooth. Lexus reliability is second to none.

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  LX-570 Review - I Love This Car! - 2010 Lexus LX 570
  By ashron - December 1 - 6:03 pm

  It has been 3 years and 60,000 miles since I purchased my 2010 Lexus LX 570 brand new from Lexus dealership in Santa Monica, California. The more I drive my LX, the more I am convinced that I made the right choice! When I did my search for a new car, my only requirements were to drive a large luxury SUV. As an owner of 2 companies that drives approximately 20,000 miles a year, my needs were "Luxury" and "Utility". I test drove BMWs X5, Mercedes GL-450, Land Rover, The Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, and the Lincoln Navigator. In my opinion, the LX-570 had many advantages over the others. Its ride was the smoothest and quietest. It was COMFORTABLE! (Extremely comfortable in fact) Ergonomically, none of the others came even close. Its navigation with Destination Assist was by far the most advanced and easiest to use. (I use it all the time and love it). Fit and finish and especially reliability are second to none. Its size was also very appealing to me. Its not too big such as the Escalade and Navigator, and yet its still big enough for a 3rd row seat. Its also very wide and roomy inside which I really like. The European SUVs on the other hand, felt very narrow and tight and many lacked the 3rd row seat. I have had the opportunity to drive my LX in various driving conditions. From day to day L.A. traffic, to a 300+ mile drive in stormy rain and snow thru windy mountain roads and even driving all the way to Montana and back with 5 adults and fully loaded with gear. (5500 miles in 19 days to visit all the major national parks in the western states, including, Yellow Stone, Teton, Glacier, Olympic, Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helen, Redwood Forest, etc) I have also done several day long trips to various other cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson and San Francisco to name just a few. (I do several trade shows each year) In all my travels, whether Im driving thru the desert at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or in inclement weather, I find the LX comfortable, luxurious, quiet, smooth and reassuring.

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  Thrilled - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By KSmith - December 1 - 2:53 pm

  My first SUV LOVE the ride, does great in the snow, Great visibility, overall VERY HAPPY with my truck ( I cant really call it a truck!).

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  Best "ES" yet - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By paul - December 1 - 8:10 am

  Fun to drive, easy to start, everything works; the standard audio system is fine unless you are an "audiophile"; good gas mileage (about 22-23 MPG) in all around driving; run mid-grade gas rather than premium and have not had any performance issues.

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  What a Great Ride! - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By Christian - November 30 - 9:00 pm

  After having driven a Mercedes E-Class for the last seven years, I fell in love with this Lexus. I had initially planned on purchasing the GS model, but felt that it did not have enough headroom for me. After testdriving the LS, I knew that it was the perfect car for me! With the exception of the two suggested improvements noted, I love everything about this Lexus. It seems that Lexus considered even the most minute details when they designed this car, in order to create a ride as close to perfect as possible!

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  "OH WHAT A FEELING" - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By USAFR AKA "Rock" - November 30 - 10:50 am

  After hours on the Internet researching vehicles I spent weeks visiting local dealershipÂ’s test driving many, many cars of various brands. Next stop Lexus dealership, they have this brand new 07 Lexus ES 350 in the showroom. I started looking the car over and right off I was amazed with all the standard and luxury features car had to offer. After test-driving the ES 350 I was sold, the quiet smooth ride was awesome. Needless to say, that was the end of my lengthy search. If youre looking for a car, test-drive the Lexus ES 350 first, it might save you time & money.